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Physiotherapist

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Physiotherapists are healthcare professionals who help people manage pain, recover from injury, and improve movement and function. They work with patients of all ages, from children to the elderly, and may help people who have suffered sports injuries, strokes, or long-term illnesses such as arthritis. Physiotherapists use a range of techniques such as exercise, manual therapy, and education to support a patient's recovery and wellbeing. In the UK, physiotherapists can work in hospitals, community clinics, private practices, sports clubs, or even visit patients at home. To become a physiotherapist, you usually need a degree approved by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, and you must be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council.

Physiotherapist

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📊 Statistics

Average Salary

Physiotherapists in the UK typically earn between £28,407 and £44,503 per year within the NHS, depending on experience and band level.

Number of Positions

There are over 61,000 registered physiotherapists in the UK, according to the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).

Job Growth

Demand for physiotherapists is expected to rise by around 5 percent between 2021 and 2027, due to an ageing population and increased focus on rehabilitation.

🚀 Careers in this path

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Paediatric Physiotherapist

Specialises in helping children with physical difficulties to improve their movement and function.

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Sports Physiotherapist

Works with athletes and sports teams to prevent and treat injuries, and improve physical performance.

Neurological Physiotherapist

Focuses on helping people who have neurological conditions such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, or Parkinson's disease to regain mobility and independence.

Explore and Prepare

Research the Role

Learn about what physiotherapists do and where they work.

Find out about the different areas of physiotherapy, such as working with sports injuries, elderly care, or children's development. Look for work experience opportunities or volunteer roles in healthcare settings to get a feel for the profession. NHS websites and professional bodies such as the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) offer excellent resources.

Choose Relevant Subjects

Select GCSEs and A-levels that will help you progress.

To become a physiotherapist, you will usually need five GCSEs at grade 4 or above, including English, maths, and science. At A-level, biology is highly recommended, and other sciences or PE can also be useful. If your school offers BTECs or other equivalent qualifications, ensure they are accepted by universities.

Complete Education and Training

Study for a Degree

Apply for an approved physiotherapy degree course at university.

Physiotherapy is a degree-level profession in the UK. Look for courses approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and the CSP. Full-time courses typically last three years and include both academic study and practical placements in hospitals or clinics. Entry requirements usually include A-levels (or equivalent) and sometimes relevant work experience.

Complete Placements

Gain hands-on experience during your studies.

All physiotherapy degree courses include practical placements as part of the curriculum. These placements allow you to work with real patients under supervision and develop your practical skills in a variety of settings, such as NHS hospitals, private clinics, or community health centres.

Become a Qualified Physiotherapist

Register with the HCPC

Apply to join the Health and Care Professions Council to practise legally.

After completing your physiotherapy degree, you must register with the HCPC to work as a physiotherapist in the UK. This ensures you meet national standards for professional skills and behaviour. The process involves providing evidence of your qualifications and sometimes undergoing a background check.

Find a Job or Specialise

Apply for physiotherapist roles or consider specialising.

Newly qualified physiotherapists often start in NHS Band 5 roles, moving through structured development programmes. You can later specialise in areas like sports therapy, paediatrics, neurology, or work in private practice. Continuing professional development is important for career progression.

🎯 View Apprenticeships

Explore relevant apprenticeships that can help you kickstart your career in Physiotherapist. Apprenticeships offer hands-on experience and training while earning a wage.

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Career Progressions

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Sample Qualifications

How to become

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role

University

You can do a physiotherapy degree course approved by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.

You can also do a postgraduate master's course if you already have a first degree in a related subject, like:

  • biological science
  • health science
  • sports and exercise science

Once you are qualified and have clinical experience you could specialise in an area like sports injuries and rehabilitation.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 2 or 3 A levels, or equivalent, including biology for a degree
  • a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study

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Apprenticeship

You can apply to do a Physiotherapist Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship.

It usually takes 4 years to complete and includes a mix of learning on the job while studying at university.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, preferably including biology, for a degree apprenticeship

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Work

You may be able to start as a physiotherapy assistant and study part time for a degree or degree apprenticeship to qualify as a physiotherapist.

Volunteering

You'll find it helpful to get some get some volunteering experience in a healthcare setting before you apply for a course.

You can also get advice on work experience from the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.

More Information

Registration

Career tips

You'll be expected to show an understanding of the NHS values when applying for jobs and apprenticeships.

If you're interested in sports physiotherapy, it will help if you can get some experience with an amateur sports team or club. This will show your commitment when it comes to applying for training and jobs.

Professional and industry bodies

You can join the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy for professional development and to build up your contacts in the industry.

Further information

You can find out more about a career in physiotherapy from:

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